Bomb shelter



June 11, 1963 M. M. ROSENFELD BOMB SHELTER Filed Oct. 19. 1961 INVENTOR. MORTON M. ROSENFELD M g! W ATTORNEY United States Patent fitice 3,93,097. Patented June 11, 1963 3,993,639? 30MB SliiELTER Morton M. Rosenfeid, Mount Vernon, N35. (271 Madison Ave, New York, NE.) Filed (Bet. 1%, i961, Ser. No. 146,227 8 Qlairns. (Cl. 109-1) This invention relates to a bomb shelter, and more particularly, to an underground bomb shelter having a novel access means.

As a general rule, bomb shelters and other underground enclosures are provided with access means so that a person may have access to the underground bomb shelter or enclosure from a point above ground level. Such access means may be in the nature of a cylinder having one end at ground level and a passageway providing communication between the other end of the cylinder and the underground enclosure or bomb shelter. The end of the cylinder adjacent ground level must be provided with some type of lid or cover for selectively closing said end of the cylinder.

I have discovered that the mere provision of a pivotable or reciprocable lid on the end of the cylinder adjacent ground level is not entirely satisfactory. Quite often, dirt and other foreign matter is positioned adjacent the periphery of the lid. If a bombing occurs which requires use of the bomb shelter, it is to be expected that dirt, stones, and other foreign matter will be dispersed so as to be adjacent the lid. Under such circumstances, the foreign matter will immediately enter the cylinder when the lid is opened. This is objectionable especially if the lid is being opened by a person disposed within the cylinder and attempting to exit therefrom.

In accordance with the present invention, a guard cylinder is disposed around the escape cylinder. The guard cylinder has a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of the escape cylinder thereby providing an annular space therebetween. The lid is of suflicient size so as to extend across the end of the guard cylinder at ground level. In this manner, the loose matter adjacent the periphery of the lid will fall into the annular space. To further prevent such matter from entering the escape cylinder, the lid is provided with a depending skirt which surrounds the upper end of the escape cylinder in the closed disposition of the lid. In one embodiment of the present invention, the lid is pivotably secured at its periphery to the guard cylinder. In another embodiment of the present invention, the lid is reciprocably disposed with respect to the guard and escape cylinders.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel access and exit means for an underground enclosure.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bomb shelter with a novel access or exit means.

It is another object of the present invention to pro vide an underground enclosure access with means for preventing foreign matter from entering thereinto when a lid or the like is moved to an opened disposition.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an underground enclosure such as a bomb shelter with a tubular access or exit means for preventing foreign matter from entering thereinto when a lid is opened.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a partial sectional View of an underground enclosure embodying the novel access or exit means of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the lines 22.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view partly in section illustrating the ground level portion of the access means with the lid in a partially opened position.

FIGURE 4 is an illustration similar to FIGURE 3, but illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 an underground enclosure such as a bomb shelter designated generally as 10.

The bomb shelter 10 includes a main housing 12 partially illustrated in FIGURE 1. The main housing 12 is disposed below ground level and may be cylindrical in transverse cross section as illustrated. Alternatively, the main housing 12 may be rectangular in cross section and made from blocks or poured concrete if desired.

The main housing 12. is preferably located adjacent a building or the like (not shown) so that the end of the housing 12 (not shown) may communicate with such building. Also, the housing 12 is preferably provided with a second access means which communicates with ground level. Such second access means comprises an escape cylinder 14 which is a hollow tube or the like having one end adjacent ground level. An entrance is provided between the other end of the escape cylinder 14 and the main housing 12.

The escape cylinder 14 is upright and is provided with a ladder 16 or other means so as to enable a person to move from one end of the cylinder 14- to the other. Guide rails 18 and 20 are preferably provided on opposite sides of the ladder 16 so as to facilitate climbing up and down the ladder 16. A guard cylinder 22 surrounds the upper end of the escape cylinder 14. The uppermost end of the cylinder 22 is adjacent ground level. The lowermost end of the cylinder 22 preferably extends to a point adjacent the main housing 12. The diameter of the cylinder 22 is substantially larger than the diam eter of the cylinder 14 thereby providing an annular cham ber 24 around the upper end of the cylinder 14. The bottom 26 of the chamber 24 may be the dirt surrounding the lower portion of the cylinder 14.

A lid 28 extends across the ground level end of the cylinder 22 and is pivotably secured thereto by means of binge 30. In plan view, the shape of the lid 28 corresponds with the shape of the cylinder 22 in transversesection. As illustrated, the guard cylinder 22 is circular in transverse cross section. Accordingly, the lid 28 is circular in plan view. The periphery of the lid 28 is in line with the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder 22.

The upper end of the cylinder 14 lies in the same plane as the upper end of the cylinder 22. Accordingly, the lid 28 acts as a lid for the cylinder 14. A manually operable latch member 32 is secured to the inner peripheral surface of the lid 23 in a position so that it may cooperate with a latch member on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder M. A depending annular wall 34 is provided on the inner surface of the lid 28. of the wall 34 is substantially greater than the diameter of the cylinder 14 so as to prevent contact when the lid 28 is moved from an opened to a closed disposition, and

vice versa.

As shown more clearly in FIGURE 3, movement of the lid 28 from a closed disposition to an open or partially opened position enables rocks, dirt, and other foreign.

matter to fall into the annular chamber 24. Accordingly, such matter will not enter the cylinder 14. The

The diameter 3 end of the cylinder 14. In this manner, the annular chamber 24 will be in communication with atmosphere before the cylinder 14 thereby assuring that foreign matter will enter the chamber 24.

As shown more clearly in FIGURE 4, there is illustrated the upper end of the access and exit means for another embodiment of the present invention and designated generally as 40. The access means 40 is identical with the access means illustrated in FIGURES 1-3 except as will be made clear hereinafter.

A guard cylinder 22' surrounds the upper end of the escape cylinder 14 in the identical manner as illustrated in FIGURES 1-3. A lid 28' extends across the upper end of the cylinder 22'. As illustrated, the lid 28' is dishshaped in tranverse cross section. A depending annular wall extends from the inner surface of the lid 28'. The diameter of the wall 34 is slightly larger than the diameter of the cylinder 14'. The lid 28' is mounted for reciprocation between its opened and closed disposition. The wall 34 cooperates with the cylinder 14 to guide the reciprocatory movement of the lid 28'. A rod-like member 42 depends from the inner surface of the lid 28 and extends into the cylinder 14'. The inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 14 has a conventional jack mechanism 44 fixedly secured thereto for cooperation with the rod-like member 42. Thus, the lid 28' may be reciprocated to an opened disposition by manually actuating the jack mechanism 44.

In the partially opened disposition of the lid 28, it will be noted that the annular chamber 24 is in communication with atmosphere whereas the cylinder 14' is still in communication with the space within the annular wall 34'. In order to facilitate movement of the lids 28 and 28, the lids are preferably made from a lightweight, noncorrosive material such as aluminum, reinforced plastics, etc. Since the lids 28 and 28' extend across the upper end of the cylinders 22 and 22', it will be seen that the present invention substantially eliminates the possibility of surface water entering the escape cylinders 14 and 14'. Since the bottom 26 of the annular chamber surrounding the escape cylinder is a dirt floor, surface waters entering the annular chamber are readily dissipated. Thus, it will be seen that it is not necessary to provide a water tight seal between the lids 28 and 28 and the upper end of the cylinders 22 and 22, respectively. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the provision of the an nular chamber around the upper end of the escape cylinder is of particular significance when the foreign matter or surface water is contaminated. Thus, such contaminated water or matter cannot enter the escape cylinder when the lid is opened.

While the cylinders 14, 14' and 22 and 22' are illustrated by hatching to indicate they are made from metal, it will be appreciated that the same is merely for purposes of illustration. The said cylinders may be made from metal, concrete, plastic, wood, etc. As used hereinafter, cylinders 14 and 14' may be referred to as a wall means defining an escape passage from an underground enclosure. to ground level. As used hereinafter, the guard cylinders 22 and 22 may be referred to as a wall means surrounding one end of said first mentioned wall means and defining an annular chamber therebetween.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus comprising an underground enclosure, wall means defining an escape passage from said enclosure to ground level, one end of said wall means being adjacent ground level, a second wall means surrounding said one end of said first mentioned wall means and defining an annular chamber therebetween, one end of said second wall means lying in substantially the same plane as said one end of said first mentioned wall means, a lid extending across said one end of said second wall means, and means mounting said lid for movement between an opened disposition and a closed disposition, in the closed disposition of said lid, said lid being in engagement with said one end of said second wall means.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mounting means provides said lid with reciprocatory motion between its opened and closed dispositions.

3. Apparatus comprising an underground enclosure, wall means defining an escape passage from said enclosure to ground level, one end of said wall means being adjacent to ground level, a second wall means surrounding said one end of said first-mentioned wal-l means and defining an annular chamber therebetween, one end of said second wall means lying in substantially the same plane as said one end of said first-mentioned wall means, a lid extending across said one end of said second wall means, means mounting said lid for movement between an open disposition and a closed disposition, in the closed disposition of said lid, said lid being in engagement with said one end of said second wall means, and a depending wall, said wall surrounding said one end of said first wall means in the closed disposition of said lid.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said lid is guided by cooperation between said wall and said first wall means.

5. A bomb shelter comprising an underground housing, a circular wall providing an escape passage from said housing to ground level, a guard cylinder surrounding the upper end of said circular wall and defining an annular chamber there-between, the upper end of said circular wall and said guard cylinder being substantially at ground level, an imperforate lid extending across the upper end of said circular wall and said guard cylinder, and means mounting said lid for movement between an open and a closed disposition with respect to the upper end of said guard cylinder.

6. A bomb shelter comprising an underground housing, a circular wall providing an escape passage from said housing to ground level, a guard cylinder surrounding the upper end of said circular wall and defining an annular chamber therebetween, the upper end of said circular wall and said guard cylinder being substantial-1y at ground level, an imperforate lid extending across the upper end of said circular wall and said guard cylinder, means mounting said lid for movement between an open and a closed disposition with respect to the upper end of said guard cylinder, and an annular wall depending from the inner surface of said lid, said annular wall surrounding said circular wall in the closed disposition of said lid.

7. A bomb shelter in accordance with claim 6 wherein said mounting means includes members for reciprocating said lid with respect to said guard cylinder in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal axis of said guard cylinder.

8. A bomb shelter in accordance with claim 6 wherein said imperforate lid is dish-shaped in transverse cross section with its highest point at the center thereof and its lowest point around the periphery thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,382,171 Pomykala Aug. 14, 1945 2,822,765 Rudinger Feb. 11, 1958 2,871,802 Fishler Feb. 3, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 165,207 Austria Feb. 10, 1950 

1. APPARATUS COMPRISING AN UNDERGROUND ENCLOSURE, WALL MEANS DEFINING AN ESCAPE PASSAGE FROM SAID ENCLOSURE TO GROUND LEVEL, ONE END OF SAID WALL MEANS BEING ADJACENT GROUND LEVEL, A SECOND WALL MEANS SURROUNDING SAID ONE END OF SAID FIRST MENTIONED WALL MEANS AND DEFINING AN ANNULAR CHAMBER THEREBETWEEEN, ONE END OF SAID SECOND WALL MEANS LYING IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PLANE AS SAID ONE END OF SAID FIRST MENTIONED WALL MEANS, A LID EXTENDING ACROSS SAID ONE END OF SAID SECOND WALL MEANS, AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID LID FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN OPENED DISPOSITION AND A CLOSED DISPOSITION, IN THE CLOSED DISPOSITION OF SAID LID, SAID LID BEING IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ONE END OF SAID SECOND WALL MEANS. 